The Megillah of Esther: "Revelation of That Which Is Hidden"—A Parable

By Julianna Joy Klassen

The biblical tale of Esther is an oft-told and beloved story, but hidden in the story is a mystery! Esther is more than a historical accountit is a beautiful parable.

The characters and events in the story act out for us a revelation of who we are in our inner selvesthe part of us that the mirror on the wall does not reflect. The mystery is solved as the characters, on the parable stage, present a unique revelation of how we work and rule over our kingdom - our soul and spirit residing within a physical body. We also see the intimate reflection of the heart of God as He loves, woos, and works in us to draw us to Himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512750119

Julianna Joy Klassen

Julie Klassen has for many years taught Sunday school and women’s Bible-study groups. She has always enjoyed studying God’s Word and sharing her insights with others. She lives in beautiful Chilliwack, British Columbia, and makes Chilliwack Alliance her home church. She has been married for fifty years to her husband, Vic, and lives close to her beloved daughter, son-in-law, and two teenaged granddaughters.

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Copyright © 2015 Julianna Joy Klassen.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the Open English Bible.

WestBow Press

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-1900-0 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015918304

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/05/2015

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1 Seeking the Good Life

Chapter 2 The Spirit of Man

Chapter 3 Unwise Advisors

Chapter 4 The Loneliness of Self

Chapter 5 A Different Kind of Character

Chapter 6 Choosing A New Queen

Chapter 7 The Plot

Chapter 8 Here Comes Haman – Friend or Foe?

Chapter 9 Relinquishing His Rule

Chapter 10 Irrevocable Decrees

Chapter 11 The Picture of Grief

Chapter 12 No Comfort for the Comforter

Chapter 13 For Such a Time as This

Chapter 14 Up to Half of the Kingdom

Chapter 15 Invitations to a Banquet

Chapter 16 Sleepless in Susa

Chapter 17 Whom the King Honors is Honored Indeed

Chapter 18 Revelation Time

Chapter 19 Conflicting Emotions – Fear and Wrath

Chapter 20 A House in Order

Chapter 21 Haman is Dead but the Decree Stands

Chapter 22 Overruled

Chapter 23 Joy!

Chapter 24 Never too Late

Chapter 25 Hang Them and Forget the Plunder!

Chapter 26 Finally, the Good Life

Quick Reference Chart

Bibliography

My Main Sources for Name Meanings

… He is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was, ~James 1:23, 24.

How much time do we spend in front of a mirror, and yet, as James says, we walk away and immediately forget what we look like.

While we recognize ourselves and others by facial features, we are more than our outer appearance. We are body, soul, and spirit, as Paul points out in I Thessalonians 5:23.

We daily use mirrors to check our image – is our hair out of place, is our shirt buttoned wrong, do we have a smudge on our cheek - but we do not have a mirror that reflects back to us the condition of our inner man. But … what if we do? What if God gave us a parable that we can hold up as a mirror and see ourselves as we have never seen ourselves before?

This book presents Esther as God’s parable, or mirror, that reveals to us how we work and rule within our ‘kingdom’ – our soul and spirit residing in a physical body.

INTRODUCTION

Do you love a mystery? Hidden meanings, double meanings? An intriguing story? History?

The book of Esther offers it all. It is a diamond mine of truth that is rarely excavated. Most people read it, see only the obvious storyline, and miss the depth of meaning lying just below the surface! The study presented in this book will look at the layers of Esther and reveal that the story, while historically true, is also God’s parable about us, picturing the life of our inner man.

Before we get into the book, perhaps it would be helpful to review some frequently asked questions about bible study.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO STUDY GOD’S WORD?

What does God’s word, the scriptures, do for us?

1. We are sanctified (set apart for God’s purposes, matured in our faith) through His Word. "Sanctify them by Your truth, your WORD is truth," ~John 17:17.

2. God’s Word makes us strong – it makes us overcomers. I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, AND THE WORD OF GOD abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one, ~I John 1:14.

3. According to Jesus, knowing and understanding the scriptures is imperative to being His disciple. Only God’s Word is the truth that will set us free. IF you abide in MY WORD, you are my disciple indeed, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free, ~John 8:31, 32.

4. Through the scriptures, we learn to know Jesus, and it is in Him that we have eternal life. You search THE SCRIPTURES, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me, ~John 5:39. And again we read, "And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son". ~I John 5:11.

5. Hiding God’s Word in our hearts, keeps us from sinning. Your WORD I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You, ~Psalm 119:11.

These are a few of the many scriptures that stress the importance, and personal benefit of studying God’s Word. Read Psalm 119, sometime, with paper and pencil in hand and jot down all the benefits meditating on God’s Word will give you.

WHAT HAS CHANGED TO AFFECT THE ATTITUDE OF CHRISTIANS REGARDING THE BIBLE?

Today we have multiple copies of the Bible in our homes and more versions and translations than we can keep up with. We have more access to books, Bible study helps, DVDs, online articles, and YouTube or video teaching than ever before – yet the Bible itself is read less than our forefathers would ever have believed possible. When it IS read, it is read often only as a devotional book, rather than studied as the exclusive authority on the truth that governs all things. God’s word provides doctrinal truth, as well as practical truth, instructing us on how to live in every aspect of our physical and spiritual lives.

Today’s accepted mind set, too often, takes the view that truth is relevant rather than absolute, subjective rather than objective, and personal opinions are valid and relevant in determining what is right and what is wrong. Feelings, and emotions, are more important than facts. The level of education, divides the wise from the unwise. The popularly accepted thought is that all religions have God’s truth, all roads ultimately lead to God, and modern mysticism is fast gaining acceptance in our Christian churches and institutions. And so, in the mind of many Christians, consciously or otherwise, the Bible is an outdated book - often left on the shelf - and man’s glossier, more palatable fare, is increasingly influencing the thoughts and belief systems of today’s believers.

A quote by John Lawton, well known English author, is sadly true about our age, The irony of the Information Age is that it has given new respectability to uninformed opinion. When we no longer look to God as the Source of all truth, then we no longer have any standard to measure truth by, other than popular opinion.

Medical science is raising the alarm that we are losing our health due to unhealthy eating habits, and the added chemicals to our over processed food. The alarm also needs to be raised on a spiritual level because we are allowing other voices to so fill our minds, that God’s word is not given due attention, leaving us spiritually weak and vulnerable.

WHO CAN UNDERSTAND GOD’S WORD?

Often I hear the complaint, that the Bible is too difficult to understand, or is filled with stories that happened in a culture distantly removed from ours, or that much of the teaching just doesn’t fit with our modern world view. But that is a lie of the enemy, because he knows that if he can keep someone from studying God’s word - and believing it - he has that person in a vulnerable state where his lies and deception will find fertile ground.

The Bible is as relevant today, and as personally applicable, and as every-word-true, as it was the day God dictated it to the scribes recording His words. So who can understand this ancient book? Who still understands God’s words and ways?

The Child - God is not a respecter of persons, and it was His delight to make His truth available to everyone, regardless of their degree of intelligence, or level of education, or social status, or any other worldly accolades that would elevate people in the eyes of others.

Hear the words of Jesus, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things for the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes, even so Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight," ~Luke 10:21. We are told that Jesus rejoiced in this fact - that God’s truth can be explained to, and understood by, a child! Jesus said, Let the little children come unto me! ~Luke 18:16.

The Seeker - God will reveal Himself and His truth to anyone who seeks Him. He promises that, if you lack the wisdom to understand, you need only ask for it to be given to you.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him," ~Hebrews 11:6.

"If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him!" ~James 1:5.

Those Who Have the Spirit of God - God has given every born-again believer His indwelling Holy Spirit, who guides, directs, and teaches. This is not to say that we do not have - or need - teachers who help us understand and learn, but the Spirit within us is our witness, whether or not a teaching we hear is from God or whether it is in error. We need to learn to recognize and heed this ‘inner voice’ to keep us diligent - testing and discerning the things we hear and believe. Nothing that is from God will ever contradict what we read in the Bible.

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you and you do not need that anyone teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things and is truth and is not a lie and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him, ~I John 2:27.

The One Who Makes Knowing God His Life-focus - God wants our understanding of Him to be what we ‘boast’ about. If God wants us to ‘boast or glory’ about understanding Him, then He must surely have made it possible for us to do that, if we are diligent.

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches, but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and know me…That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgement and righteousness in the earth. For in this I delight, says the Lord, ~Jeremiah 9:23, 24. (see also II Tim. 2:15)

WHAT TEACHING METHOD IS BEST SO EVERYONE LEARNS?

One picture is worth ten thousand words. This phrase was coined for an advertising campaign for baking soda in the 1920’s. Their philosophy was that if they put a picture of a happy, smiling, boy on the front of the box, people would be eager to run out and buy the product, which had the power to produce that smile! The implied message was – If you want your boy to be happy, you need this product in your home.

While man may have coined the actual phrase, the truth in the statement actually originated with God. It is the One who created man who best understands how man learns. Experts in the field of how people learn, have determined that learning styles can be divided into four main categories: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic and Tactile. Those who are visual learners, learn best through what they see, auditory learners learn best through what they hear, kinesthetic learners learn best through role playing or games and tactile learners benefit most by being involved hands on – acting, doing, experiencing.

But there is ONE method of teaching that allows everyone to learn regardless of their learning style. The teacher that teaches through stories reaches the mind of everyone listening. The intended lesson is presented in a way that allows every student to be able to understand, absorb, and remember.

Watch a congregation some Sunday during the sermon - you will see that some are reading their bulletin, some are dozing, the children are squirming, and others are staring off into space. Then, the pastor begins to tell an interesting story, and immediately you can sense the change in attentiveness of old and young alike. All eyes are riveted on the pastor. And it is most likely that it is the story that will be remembered and repeated later around the dinner table.

Jesus is recognized, by Christian and atheist alike, as the greatest teacher who ever walked this earth. Why? Because he understood how to ‘capture His audience’. He taught through stories or pictures - parables or allegories.

This is what was said about Jesus’ teaching, All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables, and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables …, Matthew 13:34,35.

Jesus also declared that He spoke only what He heard the Father say, As my Father taught me, I speak these things, John 8:28. And again, I speak what I have seen with my Father,~ John 8:38.

If Jesus’ taught only what He heard the Father say, and if He never taught without parables, then does it not follow logically that ‘parables’ have always been God’s preferred method of teaching truth to His children? If God truly is no respecter of persons, then He would have to purposely choose to teach in a way that ALL could learn. Even in His creation, God’s character is displayed in ‘picture’ form. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made… ~Romans 1:19. To observe God’s visible creation is to observe His invisible character.

IS THE OLD TESTAMENT RELEVANT FOR TODAY?

I remember reading Acts 20:7-12 as a child, and it always left me feeling intensely curious. This passage tells of Paul holding a captive audience with a sermon that lasted all night. What could Paul have possibly been talking about, that so fascinated his listeners that no one wanted to go home? I sensed, that Paul’s sermon was not comparable to the sermons I was accustomed to hearing Sunday morning. Sermons I simply endured, wishing for and waiting for the benediction. But, here, the people were still listening hours into the sermon. Even the boy who obviously stayed up long past his bedtime didn’t want to miss anything Paul said, but then, when he could stay awake no longer, he fell out of the window to his death. That would have ended most sermons, I’m sure. But